Rock Lee looked at Might Guy in surprise. "Pure physical skills?"
Might Guy nodded, his expression solemn. "Yes, Lee. This is the ultimate physical skill, the essence of taijutsu. Not ninjutsu, not genjutsu—just pure physical strength. If you can master this, you could even stand against someone like Hyuga Neji without backing down."
"What? Such a skill exists?" Lee exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement. "Please, Mr. Guy, teach me this skill!"
Lee's shock and enthusiasm showed his youthful spirit, but a deeper resolve burned beneath it. In his mind, memories of countless martial techniques stirred. These techniques—brought over from Sion Mun's past life, a martial artist from another world—were powerful enough to shake entire realms. Yet, Lee wanted to see what his beloved teacher valued as the ultimate taijutsu technique.
Might Guy took a deep breath, then said, "The technique is called the 'Eight Inner Gates.'"
Hearing these words, Lee's heart raced, and memories of the Martial World flooded back. The Eight Inner Gates reminded him of a legendary martial art known only to a few elite fighters. This technique could multiply a fighter's strength, allowing them to surpass their limits, though it was dangerous. In Sion Mun's memories, the "Heavenly Martial God" had once used a similar skill in a deadly clash against him, nearly ending his life.
But for Lee to hear of it here—in the ninja world—it was astonishing!
Might Guy noticed Lee's intense reaction. "Lee, do you know of this technique?"
"No… no," Lee replied, quickly hiding his emotions. "I think I might have heard the name before."
Guy relaxed and continued, "This technique is rare, but some know of its legend. The Eight Inner Gates were once used on the battlefield to defeat five of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, powerful fighters wielding legendary swords."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Lee repeated, curious to learn more. In his memories as Sion Mun, he had faced many formidable fighters, yet the concept of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen intrigued him.
"Yes," Guy explained. "They were some of the strongest warriors from the Village Hidden in the Mist. Each one carried a famous sword with unique abilities, and their power was feared by all."
"And one person defeated five of them using the Eight Inner Gates?" Lee asked, filled with admiration.
Might Guy nodded a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yes. That person was my father, Might Duy. He couldn't perform ninjutsu or genjutsu and never advanced beyond Genin. But he spent his entire life training his taijutsu. Eventually, he mastered the Eight Inner Gates, a technique he created specifically for those who couldn't rely on other skills."
Lee's admiration grew as he listened, feeling a deep respect for Duy. "Mr. Guy, please teach me the Eight Inner Gates."
Guy smiled, placing a hand on Lee's shoulder. "Alright, Lee. From today, I'll teach you the Eight Inner Gates. Together, we'll show the world what pure physical strength can achieve!"
"Thank you, Mr. Guy!" Lee said, his voice filled with gratitude. As he watched Guy, he noticed the pride in his teacher's face—a bond forged from shared struggle and determination.
And so, under the guidance of Might Guy, Rock Lee began his journey to master the Eight Inner Gates. With Sion Mun's memories as his silent guide, he was ready to push beyond his limits, aiming to fulfill his dream of becoming a true taijutsu master.